The Devil in the White City

If you read "Isaac's Storm," you have some idea of Mr. Larson's writing ability. Still, that book did not prepare me for this experience. With "The Devil In The White City" the author has moved the bar up a notch. He has several major themes and a few minor ones and he succeeds in meshing everything together seamlessly. First, we have the story of the Chicago World's Fair of 1893. Mr. Larson gives us the background, explaining the competition between various American cities that lobbied Congress for the right to hold the fair. New York, Chicago, Washington D.C. and St. Louis all wanted the fair. (The pressure was on to outdo the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1889.) The "upper-crust" of Chicago was especially anxious to prove to New York City that Chicago was much more than a place where animals were slaughtered and butchered. They wanted to demonstrate that Chicago had "class" and culture. Once Chicago won the competition to hold the fair, the race was on to design something spectacular and to get it built by the deadline that had been set. Mr. Larson introduces us to Daniel Burnham, the fair's director of works, and brings us into the offices of Burnham and the other architects and details the difficulties involved in getting such a diverse group of people, some with very large egos, to cooperate with one another. The author provides crisp character studies of Burnham, his partner John Root, Louis Sullivan and other famous architects, as well as Frederick Law Olmsted, who was eventually convinced to come on-board, despite being around 70 years old, to do the landscape architecture. Mr. Larson explains the physical details of putting the fair together and the bureaucratic jungle that Burnham had to hack his way through in order to accomplish his goal. The author tells us about some of the products that were introduced or popularized at the fair, such as Juicy Fruit gum, Cracker Jack, Aunt Jemima's pancake mix and Shredded Wheat ("shredded doormat, some called it). One of the many things Burnham had to worry about was to come up with something to "out-Eiffel, Eiffel" as Gustave Eiffel's tower had amazed the world when it was "unveiled" in Paris in 1889. Mr. Larson has a lot of fun with some of the crackpot ideas that were suggested to Burnham....one of which was to build a complex set of towers-within-towers, which could be telescoped to expand and contract at will. The inventor suggested putting a restaurant at the top but, Mr. Larson writes, "... possibly a bordello would have been more apt." As you can see, the story of the fair could easily have been a subject for an entire book, but Mr. Larson chose to also tell the story of Henry Holmes, the charming serial killer who operated just outside the confines of the fair. Details of his background are provided, and we are brought deep into his hellish world and are shown how he enchanted, killed and disposed of his victims...who were usually young women, but also included small children. Holmes had big, blue eyes and when talking to women he would always maintain eye contact and appear to be fascinated by what they were telling him. He would establish intimacy by touching them on the arm. But he also had a personality that could win over men, as well as women. He was cultured and soft-spoken and never lost his temper, even when under extreme pressure. He was a gifted liar. In addition to his "skills" as a killer, he was able to buy things without paying for them....managing to put creditors off for months and years because they not only believed his lies, but also just couldn't help liking him. Again, Mr. Larson manages to flesh out this portion of the book by bringing some of Holmes's victims to life for us...they are more than just caricatures. The author did a lot of legwork and dug deeply into the primary sources. Extracts from numerous personal letters are provided and people who were later interviewed by newspaper reporters and detectives are quoted. This brings such an intensity to the book that we are happy to have the story of the fair in counterpoint. We are allowed to "come up for air" in alternating chapters. Too much of Holmes at one time would be too much to handle. Finally, if you read "Isaac's Storm" you know that Mr. Larson has a true storyteller's gift. His prose is richly descriptive. One of my favorite sections in the book is where Mr. Larson writes about a meeting of architects in an office building known as the Rookery: "As the light began to fade, the architects lit the library's gas jets, which hissed like mildly perturbed cats. From the street below, the top floor of the Rookery seemed aflame with the shifting light of the jets and the fire in the great hearth." I love the imagery, and the use of the word "mildly" is a great touch. With "The Devil In The White City" you get two great tales, written with beautiful attention to physical detail and with the subtle and nuanced psychological portraits usually found in really fine fiction.

“I was born with the devil in me. I could not help the fact that I was a murderer, no more than the poet can help the inspiration to sing” –H.H. Holmes “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood” –Daniel Burnham Erik Larson opens his book with these two quotes that function as a preview—and microcosm—to the essence of the two minds at the heart of his Devil in the White City. More than that, both men operated within the same city that spurred their minds to blossom in all their respective depravity and grandeur: Chicago. And more specifically, the author examines the single event that acted as the crucible for revealing both the best and worst that these men could conjure—that event being The Chicago World’s Fair of 1893—an event that would serve as a symbol to the spectrum of the human spirit in all its glory and monstrosity upon the advent of the twentieth century. Chicago of 1893 was a burgeoning American city determined to demonstrate itself against its metropolitan rivals to the East. And with the national decision to commemorate Columbus’ 400th anniversary—coupled by the renowned debut of Eiffel’s Tower at the recent Paris Exposition of 1889—America needed to utilize the upcoming Chicago World’s Fair as a monument and announcement to American’s unparalleled capacity for achievement and innovation. Leading this endeavor would be Daniel Burnham—the architect responsible for overseeing its exhibits, maintaining production, and selecting the fellow men responsible for elevating the Fair into a phenomenon surpassing all expectations. After the death of Burnham’s professional partner, celebrated architect John Root, almost the entire burden of the assignment fell upon his shoulders. a task with the potential to cripple most men faced with the challenge, but one in which Burnham would work tirelessly to succeed—despite certain failures and shortcomings often out of his control—to exemplify the power of a determined mind coupled with an unceasing work ethic. These obstacles of Burnham’s contention would often arrive in the form of inclement weather, bureaucratic battles, and internal squabbles with fellow department heads. Nonetheless, despite numerous delays and last-minute fixes, the Fair was a triumphant success. One that would leave behind such marvels as The Ferris Wheel, Tesla’s alternating electrical current, gum, shredded wheat, spray painting, the device that creates plates for printing Braille…the list goes on ad nauseam. But besides these tangible heirlooms still affecting present American society, the ambition and awe of by the Fair itself would prove to be perhaps its most profound legacy. As one example, Larson relays an anecdote concerning one of the countless construction workers hired to help the Fair reach its nearly impossible deadline. This construction worker being an otherwise anonymous employee by the name of Elias Disney, who would recount stories of the overwhelming awe instilled by the spectacle of The White City upon the attendees to his young son Walt, which, Larson implies, would later be imitated in his designs of Disneyland. Interspersed between these anecdotes of American achievement at its zenith, Larson weaves a parallel narrative focused upon the exploits of H.H. Holmes—America’s first true serial killer. Operating his nearby World’s Fair Hotel—which would later be infamously remembered as The Murder Castle—Holmes would seize upon the opportunity afforded by the Fair in the most monstrous manner imaginable: as a vehicle for his plans of murder and theft to be unleashed. In stark juxtaposition to Burnham’s continued efforts to utilize his resources for the benefit of society, Holmes embodied the nightmare version of the American self-made man. Calculated, cold, and patient, Holmes worked with methodical ingenuity in his construction of the Murder Castle: a three-story hotel assembled from Holmes’ designs that would provide the perfect tenement to his abominable ambitions. From assigning certain workers to only certain sections (limiting their knowledge to corroborate with one another), to his ability to charm creditors for money that would never be repaid, to his own manufactured public image of a well-to-do businessman that would attract his varied women of interest, Holmes exploited every conceivable aspect of the trusting American public in order to appease the commanding vices surging within him. These vices would be numerous and varied. From insurance fraud, to theft, to murder, to kidnapping, Holmes existed as a personification of evil. At every turn—with Burnham working relentlessly mere miles away to produce a vision of America that would change and inspire the world—Holmes indulged in every act of depravity that he could conceive. As though possessed (a claim that Holmes would literally attest to after his arrest), H.H. truly lived up to his opening quote of being incapable of quelling his deviant impulses. Whether it was his numerous wives—all naïve women who sought out Chicago in hope of a new life within the burgeoning metropolis—or random hotel guests, or eventually the children of his accomplice…Holmes exhibited no mercy in satisfying the limitless depths of his immorality. And, as Larson reminds the reader in the introduction, the book is not a work of fiction. Nonetheless, the author weaves this sprawling narrative with compelling and compulsive chapters—each one short and episodic so that the reader falls under the trance of believing that the work could be a fictional, historical thriller. More importantly and impressively, these chapters are written with such specificity and atmosphere as to completely transport the reader into the setting. Larson favors stark, smooth prose that paints a vivid picture of the subject and allows the reader to experience the range of emotions occurring within this revolutionary event: from the majesty of the Court of Honor to Annie Williams’ utter panic after Holmes locks her within a vault, turns on the valve for poisonous gas to be released, and listens to her final screams before death just outside the door. The last third of the novel—with the Fair inexorably approaching its bleak end and the determined detective named Frank Geyer on Holmes’ elusive trail—Larson escalates the suspense to especially memorable and powerful effect. After Holmes’ many, many creditors finally coalesced to take him down, H.H. escaped from Chicago. However, the hotelier did not flee alone; instead, he absconded with three children belonging to his former assistant: the drunken henchman Benjamin Pitezel. As Geyer tracks Holmes across the northern states, locates him in Toronto, and discovers the gruesome remains of the children murdered and mutilated by Holmes, the storytelling morphs into a riveting chase across America and Canada to finally deliver retribution upon the killer. Geyer’s descent into the cellar of the climactic Toronto home reads with as much suffocating suspense and dread as any horror novel, and the brutal aftermath—wherein the mother must identify her horribly mutilated child at the coroner’s office—delivers the unbearable emotions of devastation experienced by the victim that are often glossed over by similar works in the genre. By the finale, wherein Larson interweaves the rapid destruction of the Fair following the assassination of Chicago’s mayor with Holmes’ arrest and execution, the author provides perspective on how the immense scope of these events affected the American public. Burnham with the World’s Fair—a prodigious monument to the power of accomplishment in American creativity, innovation, and inspiration; then with Holmes and the Murder Castle—a material edifice containing the darkest conceptions of a man’s mind and a literal house of horrors that contributed nothing but carnage and chaos. In this striking juxtaposition, Larson underscores how these two men—existing under the same time, place, and tested by the same opportunity—opted to forge the material legacy of their lives. And in demonstrating these expanded boundaries of American accomplishment and depravity upon the advent of the twentieth century, Larson impresses a larger understanding of the scope of human nature; and more importantly, the significance of how each man chooses to actualize his own nature, despite his limited time, and how profoundly the consequences of these actions continue to echo beyond the ephemeral present. [...]

Larson's "Devil In The White City" is every bit as good as his prior Isaac's Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History if not better still. Larson has a knack for telling a story that not only holds readers spellbound yet retains its historical truth and accuracy all while remaining as truly suspenseful as any fiction I've read. With "Devil" Larson tells the tale of how Chicago was selected to host the 1893 World's Fair but also interweaves the tale of Dr. H. H. Holmes, one of America's earliest and most prolific serial killers. Larson mixes in the individuals who made the World's Fair happen, how it came to be, and the spectacle, doing so with such lively and engaging prose you'd wish you could go back in time to have seen it. And like a moth drawn to a Gilded Age flame, Dr. Holmes saw the opportunity to prey on unsuspecting young women, who came to Chicago to see the fair. Along the way Holmes sets up dubious businesses and eventually creates a hotel that becomes his custom-built slaughterhouse - a virtual house of horrors designed to foster his slaughter in a most efficient and diabolical manner. As Holmes builds his perfect beast so too are Daniel Burnham, Frederick Law Olmstead, and others are creating their vision of beauty - a gleaming white city on the shores of Lake Michigan. But not everything goes so smoothly, and with all the problems encountered it's truly astonishing the fair ever happened or that it made any money. But succeed it does, not all at once, but eventually. The fair becomes a cultural touchstone for that generation in ways unimaginable and what it created shaped the world we live in today. Such was the impact of the Fair. Larson tells these interwoven stories in a way that reminds me of classic silent movies like D. W. Griffith's "Intolerance", and to some following the different plot lines may be a bit of a challenge (although I didn't). Some may be more interested in the Holmes storyline with all its attendant gore. I'd forgotten how truly awful the economy was in 1892/3 and that the Fair succeeded was nothing short of miraculous - it was a risky gamble and the stakes were very high. Reading through I found myself wishing I could have seen it in all its glory and it was sad to hear how the fairgrounds came to an ignominious end. Also fascinating was the storyline of the determined Detective Frank Geyer who doggedly pursued Holmes's path to find his victims. Detective Geyer was truly ahead of his time in his methodical nature and his relentlessness. In the end "Devil" is a glimpse into that society and the culture of that era in a way you almost never get in narrative histories. Larson is probably the best writer in the field and I've yet to read any of his books that failed to amaze and interest me. "Devil" is one heck of a ride!

I could not wait to write a review of this book. I had bought this book for a friend, she gave it back to me since she had already read it, and she said she thought the book was pretty dry. That's being nice. Here is my impression after having just completed it. The DIWC took me about 2 months to read. I understand many people think this one of the greatest books ever written and that it is a page turner. This is stunning. If this book is really so grand, why was it always very difficult for me to pick up the book and continue reading it. There were times I picked up the book, read two pages, then threw it down in disgust. Ironically, when I started it, I too felt it would read like a real page turner. That ended fast. When I finished the book, I just set it aside with great relief. I just didn't care anymore and I was over it. And I was eager to write my review so I had motivation to finish. I have a policy to always finish the books I start. The story is about the Chicago World's Fair of 1891. At the same time one of the greatest mass murderers in America was secretly killing people in Chicago. The book has these two parallel stories going in alternating chapters. The stories are not related and don't intersect anywhere, except Holmes and some victims do attend the fair. Although I understand what the author is trying to do here: portray the lightness and darkness of America at the time, an important time in history. But it doesn't come together well. Some reviewers online say they read only the most interesting chapters and skipped the rest. This is the textbook approach to reading. Is this what the author intended? I am giving this book 2 stars. The DIWC is useful for history classes and English classes. Other than that, it's not the best choice for reading for enjoyment. There is enough interesting material in the book to keep me reading. This saved it for me. The author researched a lot to create the book. He deserves a lot of credit. This is for 2 stars, and not one. Nonetheless I was just stunned. How could so much interesting material be presented and organized in such a boring way? The book is good for English class because the book is replete with literary devices and rich vocabulary. There is lots of foreshadowing, metaphors, and similes. But in this case, all this does not make the book better, it makes it more annoying because it's all very much in your face, and not subtle. I became so tired of some of the authors over the top, embellished descriptions. Read on I couldn't resist sharing. Here are some of the most memorable examples: "Cairns of frozen manure punctuated the landscape." Gee, why not just say: "Piles of horse manure covered the ground." "The light entering the room was preternaturally intense, carrying with it the surplus radiance of the lake and its frozen shore." What's wrong with saying, "Bright winter sunlight reflected off the lake and frozen shore and illuminated the room." Here's another, "Bertha Palmer, whose diamonds radiated an almost palpable heat." Instead, just say Bertha wore "glittering diamonds." And another: "Voices drifted across the water, laced now and then with the laughter that rang like crystal touched in a toast." How could such a simple thought be so overwritten? "It was hot in Indianapolis. Leaves hung in the stillness like the hands of the newly dead." That was uncalled for. When I read lines like those above, I don't ooh and aah over how good the writing is, I groan and roll my eyes. He is trying so hard to impress us. There are lines like this on most pages and it is annoying. The DWIC is weighted down with so many mundane details that don't add very much to the whole. We get to read about what's on the menu at dinner, how many ducks vs swans should be in a pond, and whether they should plant roses, chrysanthemums, or petunias in the garden, and what each flower represents. And it goes on and on and on. But at the same time, many details feel missing. We are constantly reading about the delays and cost overruns facing the fair's construction. Then within a few pages, we read that the fair is now half way completed. This is also a book of lists: food on the dinner menu, lists of Holmes' wives and victims and children, lists of plants, lists of architects, lists of Chicago city officials, lists of animals and plants, lists of visitors to the fair, and on and on. These are my big gripes about this book. Toward the end it focuses more on Holmes. Here the book improves but only somewhat. I actually felt that reading about the architects and their ideas, thoughts, and approaches was also kind of interesting. I didn't mind that so much. It also reminded my somewhat of the Fountainhead (FH) by Ayn Rand. That book also deals with great architects and their visions just as does the DIWC. But Rand did so in a more effective way, put aside for a minute how one may feel about her politics. A few parts are so similar it almost made me think he borrowed from the FH by Ayn Rand. I find architecture interesting, so those parts did not bore me. Other reviewers were bored by this however. I get it. That's a problem, a lot here is boring, it's just boring in different ways for different folks. I have mixed feelings about this book. It was educational but highly incomplete. For example, so much happens regarding Nicola Tesla and Thomas Edison and wiring the fair for electricity. But the book only just touches on this. A fascinating topic that glossed over. Sorry this is so lengthy. This is such a celebrated writer and the DIWC is so well regarded. I had so much to say about this. I could keep going.

Erik Larson has the gift of making works of nonfiction read like a novel. In Devil in the White City, he uses his skills to present us with two different but related stories. They include the Chicago Columbian Exposition of 1893 and the Chicago serial killer, Dr. H. H. Holmes. They make for an unbelievable contrast. Chicago in the late 1890's was a rapidly growing city with an identity crisis. Known mainly for its slaughter houses, it wanted the respect of other major cities including New York, Philadelphia and Washington. When congress authorized a world's fair to rival the very successful Paris exposition, Chicago actively lobbied for and was awarded this honor. About 70% of Devil in the White City gives details that show that the creation of The Columbian Exposition (later called The White City) was nothing less than a miracle. Chicago local architect, Daniel Burnham, was a true visionary and became the heart and soul of the fair. He was involved in all aspects of planning and preparations involved. This man who was refused admittance to Harvard and Yale proved to be a true genius. He was also smart enough to enlist the help of the best men of his time including landscape architect Frederick Olmstead (Central Park), architect Richard Hunt (Biltmore), architect Louis Sullivan, and engineer George Ferris. But what truly made this an incredible tale was the short period of time that Burnham had to build the fair despite many setbacks-especially Chicago weather. Once finished, it was the marvel of the age. Even jealous New Yorkers had to admit that Chicago had indeed outdone herself. Using the backdrop of the fair, Larson explores the life of Dr. H. H. Holmes (born Herman Mudgett). A man as dark and evil and sinister as they come, Holmes built a "castle" in Chicago and renovated part of it into hotel rooms for the exposition. But his castle also included vaults where victims could be gassed, kilns where their remains could be burned, vats of acid where they could be destroyed, and dissecting tables where they could be dismembered. Holmes was a true charmer and the Chicago police were completely snowed. It is not known how many people he killed, although the number could be above 100. That such a horrible man could have operated in the shadow of The White City is unfathomable. Larson is a stickler for details (he does all his research himself and does not believe in internet research). The Devil in the White City is filled with interesting tidbits of information and anecdotes. For instance, Walt Disney's father worked in building the exposition, and Walt grew up hearing wonderful stories about The White City. The senior Disney even wanted to name his first son Columbus, but his wife objected and they settled for Roy. We wonder how these stories may have helped Walt to envision his own Magic Kingdom. We learn about the many things that were introduced at the fair including hamburgers, diet soda, Shredded Wheat, Crackerjack, Pabst Beer, the first US Postal Service picture postcards, Juicy Fruit Gum and the Ferris Wheel. AC electricity was chosen for the fair over DC and became the standard. As with many fairs, it proved a gateway to the future. As much as a contrast the White City was to the evil Dr. Holmes, there was also a stark contrast between the White City and the rest of America. The Depression of 1893 started to overcome the country, banks went under and businessmen committed suicide. Millions were hungry, homeless and unemployed. The leaders of the Gilded Age refused to offer concessions and labor unions began to grab a foothold. Things would get much worse before they got better. The Devil in the White City was a fascinating book, but one thing that would have made it even better is the addition of more photographs. Since the exposition lasted only six months and only one building remains standing today, it would have greatly enhanced the readers' appreciation of the scope and beauty of the fair. But other than this, Larson has provided us with a fine book that easily rivals his Isaac's Storm.

When Daniel Hudson Burns was asked to oversee the architecture and development of the World's Fair, Burns seen this as a way to really make a name for himself. Painstakingly he hired and fired... working hard to get it right to create what would put Chicago on the map... an amazing attraction to celebrate the anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America that would draw people to it from all over the world. Not too far from the fairs planned location was H.H. Holmes. Holmes had a dark side that was easily masked by his piercing blue eyes, pleasant demeanor, fine style of dress, and Holmes just had an uncanny way with people. Holmes was a swindler, and a murderer, and actually created a home (later known as the Murder Castle) that was designed to trap people, and hide the bodies - or in some cases, Holmes would plant the bodies of those he had killed so they would be found and be seen as having had an "accident." As many of these people had trusted Holmes, he had taken out insurance policies on them as "family members" and would collect once the bodies were recovered. While Burns worked at creating the famous Fair, Holmes made plan of how he would lure people from the fair into his many traps.... Told in alternating chapters between the making and creating of the World's Fair, and the coinciding happenings that surrounded the man named Holmes, this non fiction read will capture you and not let you go. This well written books reads like a smoothly flowing fiction book, but the fact is - it is not fiction. I poured over the pages of this book as you could almost feel the tension churning.... first the start of the fair, then over to Holmes as he makes his way into peoples hearts (I am reminded of Jeffrey Daumer), then back to what is happening with the fair, the architecture, the details - all make for fascinating reading. Did you know the first Ferris wheel was built at this fair? Truth really is stranger than fiction. When I was first introduced to this book last month during book club I was amazed I had never heard of this true story of murder and mayhem surrounding the Chicago World Fair. In fact, honestly... I knew little of the fair. Upon reading this book and taking a survey of our book club - no one in our group had heard of the missing people surrounding the fair or the man called Holmes. But before you set your creep factor on high, know that there is more to this book than the spooky Mr. Holmes with the killer looks... and apparently, killer instincts. The historical facts in this book are ... well, amazing. If you have never read up on the Chicago World fair there is so much more than meets the eye. This fair was responsible for new architectural creations never heard of prior. The first Cracker Jacks were at the fair, also new was Aunt Jemima pancakes, Juicy Fruit Gum, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, Shredded Wheat... also The Pledge Of Allegiance is known to have its first recital here at the fair, having been written earlier this same year. I really could go on and on about what this book offers. Erik Larson has written this so well that it never feels heavy with the Holmes dealings weaving in and out of the progress of the fair. The chapters flow smoothly between the two story lines and it never felt choppy. Once into the book, I had a hard time putting it down. I look forward to giving Eric Larson's book In The Garden Of Beasts.Actual ticket to the fair The book will capture those who enjoy a good murder mystery, it will also hold those who like history. In the end, I really found this book to be one I enjoyed immensely, highly recommend and will remain on the keeper shelf. *Note that this book is due to come out as a movie in 2012/2013 starring Leo DiCaprio as Holmes. While the book really is about the fair and Holmes is a secondary story... I believe the movie will reverse this and make Holmes the prime story line.

I just finished The Devil in the White City, a nonfiction book about the Chicago World's Fair of 1893. Normally, I'm all about fiction, especially good ol' crime novels, but this book really captivated me for a variety of reasons. First, I somehow grew up without ever reading about the Columbian Exposition/World's Fair in Chicago, and I now can't imagine why I'd never heard of it. I guess the fact that the fair's buildings and exhibits were torn (or burned) down contributes to people who've visited the city not knowing a huge (for that era) event took place there. Second, the writing is top notch; it would have to be to keep my attention over what would normally seem like dull material to me. Often when I read, I'll skip descriptive passages b/c I just want to know what's going to happen. In this book, reading about aspects of the setting really enriched the story for me because the descriptions were so excellently done. Next up is the fact that America's first documented serial killer operated with total anonimity before and during the fair, luring young women (and some men, too) into his castle of horrors, robbing them, and then killing them with fairly passive means (gas, chloroform). His real interest seemed to be in dissecting his victims after they died. Really strange. He was a doctor and often sold the victim's skeleton to medical schools and libraries. I've never been "into" architecture, but this book was fascinating on the subject. As described, the "White City" was a breath taking sight, one I wish I could see with my own eyes. I imagine some of the sparkle on the fair's many buildings resulted from the fact that most American architecture of the time prior had been utilitarian--get some wood, slap it together, and take shelter. The fair brought architects and engineers from all over the country together to build a remarkable city within a city. The Chicago artisans wanted to showcase their hometown to show it rivaled New York. The country and world were impressed with what they built. Interestingly, most of the buildings were fabricated from easily destructable materials that went up quickly because the whole affair got off to a late start. It was at this fair that the Ferris Wheel made its debut. The exposition directors wanted to feature something as "awesome" as the Eiffel Tower, which had been the center point of the previous world's fair. No one believed that Ferris could really pull off a machine of that size. The cars on the wheel weren't what we think of today; they held 200 people and had windows/fencing (suicide prevention); thus, hundreds could ride the wheel at the same time. The stories of how the fair came to be what it was and of the peculiar H.H. Holmes, the doctor who first charmed and then killed many women, are interwoven in a suspenseful way. It was one of those books I hated to see end. Another interesting sidelight for those of us who love travel and Disney: Walt's father (grandfather?) attended the fair and raved about it often to the family. The author speculates it was this exposition that got Walt dreaming toward Disneyland and Disney World.

First, let me say how impressed I was with Erik Larson's research into the stories he weaves in this book. He's obviously taken a lot of time and energy to get things right. Even if the author wasn't in every World's Fair Planning meeting or watching the evil H.H. Holmes murdering one of his victims you still get a sense that "this happened" and he backs up his quotes with their sources at the end of the story, which flies along nicely for the most part. The "White City" part of this book focuses on the Chicago's World's Fair and the hustle and bustle and fighting and clawing to get it up and running. No one, even those in charge, thought it could be pulled off and the progression and setbacks of this monumental undertaking are fascinating to read about. To think that all this took place at the turn of the 20th century is amazing, and shows how far we've come. "Worlds fair" like theme parks are all over the country and many of them pull ideas from this first grand event in our nations history. These chapters, focusing mainly on Charles Burnham and his crew of men who put the Colombian Exposition together is the best part of the book and the chapters I wanted to read the most. You feel the joy and anticipation as the fair opens and the loss when it comes to a close. You hold your breath as the Ferris Wheel makes its first unsteady turn. The "Devil" of the book is maniacal serial killer H.H. Holmes, who murdered anywhere between 8 to 200 women, men, and children during after and before the fair came to Chicago. no one is sure of the exact figure.I felt these parts of the book were less interesting, which is surprising considering the lunacy that Holmes managed to pull off. He conned his way into money and into woman's hearts only to stab everyone in the back and move on using his wits and charm to lure everyone into his traps. Truly creepy. I just wonder if Larson didn't feel his story was too "feel-good" and threw Holmes in as a yang to the Fairs ying. The details, while accurate as possible, are more fuzzy with Holmes story. Some of this is because Holmes killed many of his witnesses, but I felt Larson held back when it came to the grisly parts of his book. After doing some more research into the actual depravity of Holmes I found Larson's portrayal of his sick tendencies very PG. If he was going to make almost half his book about a serial killer you might as well make it about the blood and guts and sexual arousal Dr. Holmes's story intailed. I kept finding myself speed reading the parts about the back-stories of Holmes many many victims to read more about the Fair. That was where Larson had me enchanted. This book could have been about nothing else but the Fair and been much better in my opinion. It likely wouldn't have sold as well, but it would have felt more put together and less jumpy. Larson is like a juggler in his book trying to keep track of at least 5 main characters, and I feel like the juggling act was a bit much for him at times. All that being said, this book is still a great read and a fun history lesson come to life. Four stars for sure.

A really well written and engaging book on Daniel Burnham (creator of Chicagos White City) and the notorious serial killer H H Holmes.

I found this book so stressful with the two story lines - the building of the 1893 World's Trade Fair in Chicago and the serial killer on the loose. They had 2 years to design and build the site including the buildings and the site. As the Landscape Architect could not do his work until the buildings were erected and finished due to the railway tracks coming into the site to deliver the goods and he had to finish his work after whereas when he designed Central Park in NYC it was a 25 year project. With all the contractors and the short time frame - I was stressed wondering how they were going to get it done. The story line of the serial killer - every time he met with someone or took a girl on a date - would this be the time he got rid of them. I must say I certainly got my $s worth in reading this book. It was the July selection for our Book Club - great choice. A great read and enjoyable. Great discussions after.

Muy buen libro

C'est la 3ème fois que j'achète ce livre. Les deux premières fois c'était sous forme papier. Je l'ai prêté par deux fois (j'en parlais avec tant d'enthousiasme que cela faisait envie !) à des gens qui ne me l'ont pas rendu.Cette fois-ci sous forme électronique je suis sure de le garder. On apprend beaucoup de choses sur l'Amérique de la fin du 19ème (j'étudie cela à l'université et cela fait prendre vie au cours théorique). De plus il y a du suspens avec le côté thriller ce qui ne gâte rien. Pour mon 4ème voyage à Chicago, je verrai un autre aspect de la ville, surtout en imagination, car beaucoup de choses ont disparu car les bâtiments de l'exposition universelle ont brûlé.